Almost 86% of Japanese game developers are using AI in their workflows, up from 51% in 2025

In context: With AI coding assistants becoming an integral part of the software development process for professional programmers, many video game devs are reportedly using generative AI regularly in their workflows. A new report released at the 2026 Tokyo Game Show reveals just how widespread the practice has become.

According to a survey conducted by the Computer Entertainment Suppliers Association (CESA), there has been a massive surge in AI adoption among video game developers in Japan, with 85.8% of respondents reporting that they use generative AI as part of their game development process. While 63% of surveyed developers said they use AI tools daily, 22.8% said they use them only occasionally.

The survey results indicate that generative AI usage in the Japanese video game industry has increased by more than 70% since last year, when 51% of surveyed developers reported using AI in their workflows either regularly or occasionally.

The findings also point to a broader trend of AI adoption among software engineers across industries, reinforcing the growing belief that AI tools have become an increasingly important part of efficient app and game development.

It is worth noting that CESA has only released a preview version of the full survey, with the detailed report scheduled to be published in December. While the preview does not reveal exactly how developers are incorporating AI into their workflows, the most commonly cited benefits include “improved operational efficiency and productivity,” followed by “shorter development cycles” and “reduced development and operational costs.”

Almost all respondents denied using AI-generated output in their code, saying the tools are largely restricted to debugging, error correction, and automated testing. They added that all AI usage is “confirmed, modified, and supervised” by human developers to prevent abuse. The studios also reportedly restrict which AI tools can be used and how extensively, ensuring that humans remain responsible for creative decisions and final quality assessments.

The survey was conducted earlier this year among developers at Capcom, Sega, Level-5, Konami, Square Enix, Koei Tecmo, Sony, and other CESA member companies. In a statement, CESA Executive Director Tsutomu Masuda noted that this year’s report highlights the increasing use of generative AI in development environments but cautioned that the adoption of new technologies must not compromise intellectual property rights.